Now that you have collected a basic archive of material on your case in Take 1, go out into the field a second time. Arrange an appointment with the residents for a guided tour of the house or apartment and the accompanying interview.
Document the home tour and the conversation that takes place during it—if possible—through photographs or video (possibly also after the actual tour) or take notes. The interview should align with your research focus while considering various levels of content, time, and space. The following questions can serve as a good starting point: When and how did the move-in occur (how did they come to live in the apartment?), how is the space currently lived in, what future plans (such as moving, repurposing, remodeling, or adaptation plans) are already foreseeable and desired, how is the space used at different times of the day, week, and year, and what activities (inside and outside the apartment) take place where?
For the guided tour of the house or apartment, discuss with the residents before filming how you will proceed: will the resident(s) be visible? Will they accompany you, or will you move around alone with the camera? Consider whether it makes sense for the resident to give you a tour of the home without a camera so that you can get an initial overview of the situation and then return to film “on your own.” A possible sequence could be:
(1) A tour of the home without a camera or recording device, taking only notes if necessary
(2) An interview with prepared questions at the table, using a recording device and/or camera
(3) Independent video/photo recordings of the apartment and the house without the resident(s)
Consider different lighting conditions and think about the visual composition (e.g., curtains blowing in an open window, residents in the kitchen, etc.). Treat your film and interview footage as raw material that you will further develop in a subsequent take. Allow enough time on-site for Take 2 (2–3 hours) and try to stay focused while working.
Edit together a first home tour video and try to reduce it to 5 minutes. Start tagging your audio and video material as thoroughly as possible right now. Also prepare a summary of the interview (key points on topics, data, interesting aspects) as well as a transcription (Kowal; O’Connell 2010) of paradigmatic passages. Based on the videos and the interview summary, it should become clear—or you should be able to determine—which aspects you can or should explore in greater depth later on.
Bring two copies of the consent form “Level 1: Creation for Research Purposes” (adapt the form to your specific research situation). Have the research participant(s) sign both copies. Sign it yourself as well and give one copy to your research participant. Store this, along with all material you have already collected and will collect in the future, in accordance with the currently applicable principles regarding research, ethics, and rights (EU GDPR; §27 HmbDSG; Hopf 2013).
Try to convert your material into the appropriate website formats during your first visit and/or bring your material with you.